Junction box



June 3, 1930. M. J. Fox 1,761,203

JUNCTION BOX Filed May 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 17 v I J 2154 I! a; I f v z a 5 W/// I l June 3, 19360 M. J. FOX 1,761,203

JUNCTION BOX Filed May 13, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill Patented June 3, 1936 UNETE srar PATENT OFFICE MORRIS J. FOX, 6F DQEBS GRQVE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE RAILROAD SUPPLY GOMLFALW, 0F CHICAGQ, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS Junction son Application filed may 18, 1927. Serial No. 181,611.

This invention relates to junction boxes used in electrical systems, a

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple construction wherein. the wire carrying cables of an electrical system ma be led into and joined within the box an the box so closed and sealed as to exclude all moisture, when the box is located under ground or otherwise exposed to moisture,

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein no bolts or screws are required, The use of bolts and screws in existing devices has been found very undesirable for the reason that they render the device less secure and also make it more difiicult to disassemble the box in the event it is required to repair the parts.

The invention consists in the novel orrangement and combination of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a central, vertical sectional view of a junction box constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention.

Fi re 2 is a horizontal plan ViGW of the lower half of the box, a portion of the same bein in section; and the section being taken on t -e horizontal plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 of Figure 1.,

Figure 3 is a top or plan view of the junction box, a portion being broken away to show a modified arrangement,

Figure t is a sectional View of a portion of the box, the section being taken in the vertical plane indicated by the dottedv line of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, enlarged, of one of the outlets of the box, the section being taken in the vertical plane indicated by the dotted line 55 of Figure 1;

As shown in the drawings, the box is com posed of two major parts, substantially hemis herical, namel t e bottom member A, and t e top member These members are provided with complementally shaped, meeting faces by the annular flanges l and 2, respectively, as clearly shown in Figure 4. When the cover member B is placed upon the bot tom member A, the box contains an interior chamber G into which the circuit wires are brought and united as desired. Preferably the bottom of the box is made with the flat base shown at 3, and the inner surface lof the base wall is preferably provided with raised. up ribs 5, 5. When porcelain or other standard connecting pieces D are used, they will be supported above the surface a by resting upon said ribs 5, 5.

The hemispherical or dome shape of top member B is preferable but not absolutely 'nccessary,the only essential being that it should be so shaped that, when upon the bot-- tom member A, the box will have an interior chamber C of the suficient' size to receive the parts that will be used with the box.

Each of the members A and B is provided with radiallyextending apertured lugs 6, the apertures being semi-circular as indicated at 7, and open into the interior chamber C. The apertures and lugs of the members A. and B register, so that when the top B is placed upon the bottom A, the two apertures will form circular, radially arranged openings through the lugs 6 leading into the chamber G [is shown in the drawings, four such aperturcd lugs 6 are shown, but it will be manifest that two or any other number may be used.

The-base member A is provided interiorly with. an annular, inwardly extending rib member 8 of suficient thickness to provide an annular shoulder 9. The top member ll is similarly provided interiorly with an annular, inwardly extending rib member 10 of suilioient thickness to form an annular shoulder ll.

E represents the end of an armored cable sorted into the recessed lug 6 from the interior of the chamber C, to close the same when no cable E is used. In Figure 2, I have shown two oppositely arranged lugs (3, (S as containing cables E, E and two closed by the plugs 16', 1G.

I provide rings 17 for each pair of lugs (l, 6, which rings, when the two parts A and B are brought together, will be forced circumferentially about and lengthwise of the lugs to frictionally hold the members A and 13 together.

The top B of the box will be provided with an aperture or opening 18, preferably centrally thereof, which will be closed by a cap member 19; and said cap member1-9 will be provided with an interiorly directed anchor stem 20 having an annular shoulder 21. At a convenient place on the top member 13, preferably near the annular flange 2, is an outwardly directed lug member 22 provided with a shoulder 23.

From the foregoing description it will be understood, by those skilled in the art, that the cables E, E, surrounded by a suitable packing 13 and over which a lug ring 17 will have first been strung, are first laid in the apertures 7 of the lugs 6 and the wires 12 conneeted either as shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the connecting block D, or to each other, as shown in Figure 3. .If all of the lugs 6 are not used for cables E, those not so used will be closed by inserting the plugs 16 as shown in Figure 2. The top B is then superposed upon the bottom A and rings 17 placed upon the registering lugs 6, 6 of the top and bottom members and driven thereon sufiiciently to frictionally hold the top member B and the bottom member A together. There is then poured through the aperture 18, asphaltum or other suitable sealing material, such as in dicated at 24, until the entire chamber C is filled. It will be understood, of course, thatv this sealing material 2 1 will extend outward 1y into the lugs surrounding the cables E, E, as shown at 25, until it meets the inner edge of the packing 13. It will also be understood that the sealing material in filling the chamber C will also bear against the head of the plug 16 and hold the shoulder 15 thereof firmly against the bearing surface 14; and that it will fill the space between the ribs 5, 5, and intimately contact with the shoulders 9 and 11. Before the asphaltum or other sealing material is too cool, the cap 19 is positioned upon the top B to close the opening 18, the spear 2O entering the sealing material used, whlch, when it sets, will bear intimately against the shoulder 21 thereof and prevent the cap from being removed.

The box is now hermetically sealed so that there is no danger of moisture reaching its interior.

When necessary to add additional cables or to rearrange the connections, etc., a torch or other convenient heating means is applied to melt the asphalt or sealing material, the rings 17 are driven off the lugs 6, 6, and by the use of the lug 2; and top B is easily pried loose from the bottom A, all'ording access to the interior C, the sealing medium readily re moved, the repair or desired change made, and then the box is closed and scaled as above ex lained, for further use.

t will be obvious that the flattened portion 14 of the interior wall of the members A and B is provided to make a proper bearing for the annular shoulder 15 of the plug 16 as shown in Figure 2, but if desired, this portion of the interior walls of the members A and B may be recessed to receive the shoulder 15.

I prefer to use the rings 17 to hold the lugs 6 of the members A and B tightly together. However, after the sealing material 24 has become set the parts will be maintained in the desired closed position without the rings 17. It is obvious, therefore, that any temporary method of holding the parts securely together until the sealing material becomes thoroughly hardened, may be re sorted to and the rings 17 be dispensed with.

While I have shown the upper member B as being dome-shaped, it is obvious that a different form of top might be used but I prefer the arched form particularly because it avoids inner corners or pockets wherein air might be confined after the sealing material had been poured into the chamber C.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A junction box for electrical systems, comprising a two part housing, the meeting edges of the two housing members being complemental, a plurality of outwardly and 1 nwardly extending lugs substantially scm1-c1rcular in cross section on each housing member adapted to co-act with the lugs on the other to form passageways into the housing interior for cable wires, locking rings for frictionally engaging the outwardly extending portions of said co-acting lugs, and a sealing medium within said houslng and embracing the inwardly cxtending portions of said lugs.

2. A junction box for electrical systems,

comprising a two part housing, the meeting edges of the two housing members being complemental to each other and each member having an annular shoulder extending inwardly into the housing, extending lugs on each housing member adapted to co-act with the lugs on the other member to form a passageway into the housing interior for cable wires, a sealing medium within the housing in en agement with said a plurality of outwardly annular shoulder, and .100 ing rings for fric tionally engaging said co-acting lugs.

3. JllnCtlOIl box for electrical systems, comprising a two part housing, the meeting edges of the two housing members being complemental, a plurality of outwardly extend-. ing lugs on each housing member ada ted to co-act with the lugs on the other to orm a passageway into the housing interior for cable wires, the interior of the housing adjacent the inner ends of said lugs being flattened, removable plugs insertable into the passageways in said lugs and adapted to enga e the flattened 'ortions of said housing, and locking rings or frictionally engaging the exterior surfaces of said co-acting lugs.

4. A junction box for electrical systems, comprislng a two part housing, the meeting edges of the two housing members being complemental, a lurality of outwardly and inwardl exten 'ng lugs on each housing memher a apted to co-act with the lugs on the other to form a passagewa into the housing removed fromthe main wall of the section v and to be embedded in the sealing compound day of May, 1927.

MORRIS J. FOX.

interior for cable wires, ocking rings for V frictionally engagin the outwardly extending ortions of sai co-acting lugs, one of the housing members being apertured through its body portion for introduction of a seahng medium in the housing for embracing inwardly extending portions of said lu s, and a closure cap for the aperture in t e housing, said ca having a headed stem adapted to be em dded in the sealing medium.

5. A junction box for electrical systems, comprising a two part housing,.the meeting edges of the two housing members being complemental to each other and each member having an annular shoulder extending from the inner surface, the housin tured to accommodate cablewires exten g into the housing interior and a sealing medium within the housing in engagement with said annular shoulders.

6. A parkway cable junction housin comprising a dished bottom section, provided on its bottom with terminal block holdin ribs extendin transversel in spaced re ation with eac other where y the terminalblock is supported in spaced relation with the bottom of the bottom section and sealing compound permitted to flow beneath the terminal block and an anchoring relation with the compound provided, a cover section provided with de ending sides adapted to lap the sides being a erof the ottom section, the cover section being provided with a sealingcompound re-' ceiving opening at top, the bottom and cover sections bein provided with complementary channeled lo es extending outwardly therefrom to provide cable receiving necks, and means cooperating with said lobes to lock the sections together.

7. A parkway cable junction housing comprising a dished bottom section, a cu ped cover section having a sealing compoun receiving opening at top, both sections having inner walls slopin the cctions and eac provided on the interior wit h m nfi'set surface extending into a plane toward the juncture of provided with complementary L es extending outwardly there- 

